The recent spike in tensions between Belgrade and Pristina is adding to feelings of uncertainty among both Albanians and Serbs in the ethnically mixed region of southern Serbia.

Tensions that have risen since Kosovo arrested and deported a top Serbian official earlier this week have also raised fears among both local Serbians and Albanians in southern Serbia, where Albanians make up the majority of the population.

“People are scared; they are afraid that the turmoil in Kosovo could spread to the south of Serbia, which is understandable, as Bujanovac is literally next to the administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija,” Nenad Mitrovic, a local MP from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, from Bujanovac, said.

Kosovo authorities on March 27 deported Marko Djuric, head of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo, after police arrested him in North Mitrovica for what it was said “illegally entry into the country”.

Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli said Djuric had not respected the procedures “to ask for permission to enter Kosovo 72 hours in advance”.

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